A Bradford man is raising awareness and saving lives by supporting a campaign to warn of the dangers of meningitis and septicaemia.

Father-of-two Simon Robertson is working with the Meningitis Research Foundation during Meningitis Awareness Week (September 15-21) to highlight the fact that nine people become ill with meningitis every day in the UK.

This means a death will occur almost every day and a further two people will be left with life-altering after-effects, such as severe brain damage, deafness and multiple amputations.

Knowing the symptoms of the devastating diseases and acting fast, however, can help save lives.

Mr Robertson, 51, of Hopefield Way, off Rooley Lane, Bradford, says he is grateful to his wife Beverley, whose quick thinking and prompt action probably saved his life when he contracted meningitis and septicaemia just before Christmas in 2006.

“I had been having flu-like symptoms for a week to ten days prior to becoming ill,” he said. “As it was just before Christmas I dismissed it as being run down and tired at that time of year.”

However, when he collapsed in the bathroom one morning with a red rash progressing up his body, his wife – recognising the symptoms – did not hesitate in dialling 999.

“I have very little recollection from this time for about four weeks,” said Mr Robertson. “I am told tests were performed and a diagnosis of meningococcal septicaemia was made.

“I was taken into ICU where my condition deteriorated considerably during the rest of the day and overnight to the point where my wife was telephoned at home at 3am to ask her to get the family together as I was not expected to survive the night.”

However, slowly but surely Mr Robertson’s condition began to improve, although because parts of his body, especially his feet, had become starved of oxygen, they were black and his legs were covered in ulcers.

After 13 days in intensive care at Bradford Royal Infirmary he was transferred to the renal unit at St Luke’s Hospital for dialysis to help his failing kidneys. He was eventually discharged after a further seven weeks, however since then he has had to return to BRI for further operations.

“Since I was discharged from St Luke’s I have had three operations on my feet to remove various toes,” he said.

Despite this Mr Robertson has learned to walk unaided and returned to work in May this year.

“I cannot express enough gratitude to staff at BRI and St Luke’s who were involved with my treatment,” he said. “I am supporting Meningitis Awareness week because it is so important symptoms are recognised and acted on as soon as possible.”

Christopher Head, chief executive of the Meningitis Research Foundation, said: “Meningitis and septicaemia are devastating diseases which within just a few hours can leave a baby, child or adult fighting for their lives.”

Free B Aware symptoms packs are available through the Foundation’s freefone 24-hour helpline on 080 8800 3344 or website at meningitis.org.

Symptoms: Meningitis: Severe headache, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights, fever vomiting, drowsy and less responsive/vacant, rash, seizures.

Septicaemia: This form of the illness often starts with non-specific flu-like symptoms; rash, fever/vomiting, cold hands and feet/shiver, limb/joint/muscle pain, abdominal pain, pale or mottled skin, rapid or unusual breathing, drowsy and less responsive.

Other symptoms in babies include a tense or bulging soft spot (fontanelle), blotchy skin, getting paler or turning blue, refusing top feed, irritability when picked up.